Page 355 - Micronesia

History of Guam
tools, hunting artifacts, pot- arrival of Spanish explorer
tery, and drawings that have
been left behind. Researchers
have further divided this era
into two periods – pre-latte
and latte. The designation is
characterized by use of latte, the Spanish Crown, arrived
a limestone pillar (haligi)
capped by a curved stone
(tasa), that served as foun-
dation for homes and other
buildings. Lattes can be found During his three-day stay,
throughout the Marianas
archipelago, on Guam and
on nearby islands including
Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
Throughout both the pre-latte
and latte periods, Chamorros
were known as expert sea-
men, fishermen, farmers, and
artisans. Their “flying proa”
12 – a lightning fast canoe used
for trade within the Marianas
Islands – set them apart from
other cultures.
From the beginning, Guam
possessed a strong matriar-
chal society. The power and
prestige of women enabled
much of the Chamorro cul-
ture, including the language,
music, dance and traditions,
to survive.
The Spanish Era (1565 – 1898)
Although many conquerors,
merchants, and adventurers
landed on Guam prior to the
Ferdinand Magellan on March
6, 1521, he is credited with
the island’s “discovery.”
Magellan, a native of Portugal Vitores, Spanish Catholics
who was sailing on behalf of
on Guam during his attempt
to circumnavigate the globe
from 1519-1522.
Magellan’s chronicler – Anto-
nio Pigafetta – documented
tales of thatched houses
atop solid coral foundations
(lattes). The crew went on to
become the first to sail from
the Atlantic to the Pacific
Ocean, and the first to cross
the Pacific.
It wasn’t until three years
later, in 1565, that Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi officially
claimed Guam and its north-
ern islands for Spain. The
Marianas Islands were named
after Queen Mariana of Spain,
who funded Magellan’s jour-
ney.
The Spanish Era, which didn’t
reach its full potential until
more than 100 years later,
had a tremendous political,
social, religious, and econom-
ic impact on the Chamorro
culture. While several posi-
tive advancements including
farming techniques and ani-
mals (cattle) were introduced,
the population also suffered
several setbacks from the
introduction of a new culture
History of Guam
to their island. Disease and
genocidal practices damaged
the culture severely.
In 1668, Jesuit missionar-
ies took a different interest
in Guam. Led by the vener-
able Padre Diego Luis de San
arrived to introduce their
religion and establish a Eu-
ropean civilization, complete
with a trade network. Native
Chamorros were taught how
to cultivate maize, raise cattle
and tan hides. They were also
introduced to a new Western-
ized style of clothing.
As the Catholic Church gained
prominence, Guam became a
regular port-of-call for Span-
ish galleons that crossed the
Pacific Ocean from Acapulco,
Mexico, to Manila, Philippines.
The ships, heavily laden with
gold and silver mined in the
New World, often stopped on
Guam before continuing on
their trek to trade for Chinese
silks and spices. This con-
tinued for nearly 250 years,
during which time the Span-
ish civilization grew, and the
Catholic Church became the
center of village activities.
The Galleon Age ultimately
ended in 1815 following the
Mexican Revolution. Through-
out the last century of Spanish
occupation, however, Guam
continued to host a number of
scientists, voyagers, and whal-
ers from Russia, France and
England.
American Period (1898 – 1941)
Although the Spanish main-
tained control on Guam and
in the Marianas for 333 years,
the island was ceded to the
United States following the
Spanish-American War of
1898. A year later, in 1899,
the U.S. formally purchased
Guam and other Spanish-held
territories for $20 million.
U.S. President William McKin-
ley issued an executive order
placing Guam within the
administration of the Depart-
ment of the Navy. Under con-
trol of the U.S. Naval Govern-
ment, improvements occurred
including the institution of
agriculture, public health,
sanitation, an education sys-
tem, land management, taxes,
and public works. It was also
during this period that Helen
L. Paul, the wife of a U.S. Naval
Officer, designed the official 13
Flag of Guam in July 1917.
An oceanfront site in Hagåtña
called the Navy Yard Reser-
vations, where the diverted
Agaña River once emptied into
the Philippine Sea, inspired
the scene in the center of the
flag. Following a disastrous
typhoon, a single coconut